Sports · Cricket · 2 hrs ago
Kumar Kushagra earns first India call-up for New Zealand ODIs
Kumar Kushagra has earned his first call-up to India’s senior cricket team for the final two ODIs of the five-match series against New Zealand.
The 21-year-old from Jharkhand will be backup wicketkeeper-batter to Ishan Kishan for the matches scheduled for November 13 and 15.
Kushagra has not played for India’s senior team before, and his selection came ahead of Sanju Samson and Prabhsimran Singh.
He has scored 1,387 runs in 40 List A matches, including two centuries and 10 half-centuries.
He has also scored centuries for India A and East Zone in recent matches, including a 101 in the Duleep Trophy final.
His call-up gives him a chance to join India’s ODI squad, and he reacted to the announcement on Instagram with the word “Amen.”
Kumar Kushagra has received his first call-up to India’s senior team for the final two ODIs of the five-match series against New Zealand.
The 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batter will be Ishan Kishan’s back-up for the fourth and fifth matches.
Those ODIs are scheduled for November 13 and 15.
Kushagra has played 40 List A matches, scoring 1,387 runs, including two centuries and 10 half-centuries.
- Who
- Kumar Kushagra, a wicketkeeper-batter from Jharkhand.
- What
- He was called up to India’s squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs against New Zealand.
- When
- The call-up was announced on Friday, October 16, 2026. The matches are scheduled for November 13 and 15.
- Where
- New Zealand.
- Why
- Not stated.
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Kushagra was named in India A’s squad for a three-match unofficial Test series against New Zealand A, replacing Rishabh Pant.
The BCCI announced Kushagra’s call-up for India’s fourth and fifth ODIs against New Zealand.
Kushagra shared the BCCI squad post on Instagram Stories and wrote Amen.
The fourth and fifth ODIs against New Zealand are scheduled to be played.
- Age
- 21
- Squad role
- Back-up wicketkeeper-batter for Ishan Kishan
- Matches
- Fourth and fifth ODIs against New Zealand
- Scheduled dates
- November 13 and 15
- List A record
- 1,387 runs in 40 matches, including two centuries and 10 half-centuries
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What people are saying
Amen